Toy



Allg- 1, 1939- G. w. cLANToN 2,167,937

TOY

Filed Dec. l5, 1937 l] T'H; o l

Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates particularly to that type of toys known as the hobbyhorse.

It is the object of the invention to provide a toy of the character indicated constructed and arranged to be ridden by small children, and

freely movable over the floor surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the charatcer indicated that provides a substantial resilient seat for the child,

and in which the position of the head is automatically shifted relative to the plane of the floor by the weight and position of the child on the seat.

It is still another object of the invention to l5 provide a device of the character indicated that will be suiciently bulky to provide a substantial plaything, and that will be substantially indestructible under ordinary playing conditions.

Finally, it is an object to provide a device of the charac-ter indicated that will be economical to manufacture, simple in form and construction, strong, durable, and highly eflicient in its practical application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, partly in section and with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail section on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein described, I show at I and 2 two boards of suitable length, breadth and thickness, and having a conformation such as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The board I forms the bottom member of the device, and the board 2 forms the principal top member.

Between the boards I and 2 are inserted a number of springs as 3, these springs being of the type commonly used in bedsprings and furniture, a sufficient number being used to support con siderable weight when the device is in use. In the present case nine springs are shown.

The space between the two boards I and 2 and in which the springs 3 are placed is enclosed by ticking as 4, the lower and upper edges of the ticking being secured to the edges of the boards I and 2 as shown and maintaining the boards in parallel relation to each other against the outward pressure of the springs when the device is not in use.

Mounted upon the outer surface of one end of board 2, which will be referred to as the front end, is another board as 5, having the general outline of an animals head. This resemblance is accentuated by suitable decorative devices as indicated -generally at 6. The head board 5 is disposed at right angles to the plane of board 2 and is held securely in place by means of screws as 'I passing through board 2, and by cleats as 8 placed on either side thereof and secured thereto and to the board 2 as at 9.

Upon the top board 2 is placed a pad III eX- tending over its whole upper surface, and a cloth covering or blanket Il covers the pad and ex- 10 tends downwardly on all sides to a level slightly below the bottom board I. The covering II is secured to the top board I as at I2 but hangs loosely therebelow.

The structure above described is mounted upon 15 casters as I3 mounted upon the bottom of the bottom board I. These casters are positioned as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, one caster being placed directly beneath the head 5 and adjacent the forward end of the device, and the 20 other four casters being equally spaced from the center of the device and adjacent the front and rear side edges. This arrangement of the casters effectually preventing its pitching forwardly.

When the device is in use it may be moved 25 about freely and easily, either by pushing or pulling the same, or by the child seated thereon shoving against the floor.

In the rough-and-tumble play of childhood many toys are easily broken unless they are rigid 30 throughout, but a toy constructed as above described may be tumbled aboutwithout serious injury although the resilient support of the top portion permits a child to bounce thereon and to twist it at any angle to the horizontal. By 35 throwing his weight in a given direction a child may cause the head 5 to be tilted in any direction, often with ludicrous results.

By providing an enveloping covering such as I I a child cannot be pinched by compressing springs lio because while the inner ticking #i may fold inwardly between the coils of the springs the loose covering II will drop straight down to the floor and tend to minimize such danger.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I 45 have herein shown and described but one specic example of the invention, changes in form, construction, and method of assembly and operation may be made within the scope of the appended claim. 50

I claim.:

A toy of the Character described comprising,

a pair of spaced members having springs inserted therebetween to urge them apart, a flexible member completely enveloping the springs and edges 55 of the members to limit their separation, a head member mounted on the outer side of one end of one of the spaced members to overhang the same, a caster mounted on the other spaced member directly below the head member, other casters mounted on said spaced member and equally spaced from the center thereof and disposed adjacent the front and rear side edges, and a blanket covering the rst spaced member and depending loosely therefrom to a level below the second spaced member and completely enveloping the flexible member.

GEORGE W. CLANTON. 

